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Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Marketing & Advertising in United States

See how your app install costs compare. Explore mobile acquisition cost benchmarks by industry, region, and platform

Cost Per App Install for Marketing & Advertising in United States

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • This analysis looks at cost per app install trends for industry Marketing & Advertising in the United States compared to the global trend; the analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.
  • United States costs were far above market overall: the average was about $249 per app install versus a global baseline of $11.74 across the same months (~21x higher).
  • The selected series was extremely volatile, with outsized spikes in February, March, and June 2025 and deep dips in November 2024 and May 2025.
  • Seasonal patterns in the baseline show a holiday lift in November and a mid-year rise in June; the United States series diverged with unusually high Q1 spikes.

Overview of the United States (Marketing & Advertising)

  • Timeframe: Oct 2024–Aug 2025 (monthly medians).
  • Average: $248.99; median: $22.30.
  • High: $1,234.98 in Feb 2025; low: $1.54 in Nov 2024.
  • Change from first to last month: up 307% (from $8.35 in Oct 2024 to $33.98 in Aug 2025).
  • Volatility highlights:
  • Sharp dip in Nov 2024 (-82% vs Oct), followed by a surge in Dec (+1,350% vs Nov).
  • Exceptional spikes in Feb (+12,000%+ vs Jan) and Mar 2025, then normalization in Apr (-98% vs Mar).
  • Another surge in Jun 2025 (+4,400%+ vs May), stepping back in Jul and Aug.

Comparison with the global baseline

  • Baseline average (same months): $11.74; median: $11.36.
  • Baseline high/low: high $26.21 in Jun 2025; low $6.20 in Oct 2024.
  • Baseline change from first to last month: up 142% (from $6.20 in Oct 2024 to $15.00 in Aug 2025).
  • Relative positioning:
  • United States costs were above market in 9 of 11 months. Below-market months were Nov 2024 ($1.54 vs $14.28 baseline) and May 2025 ($7.31 vs $10.43).
  • The gaps were most pronounced in Feb, Mar, and Jun 2025 (ranging from ~9x to 100x+ above baseline).
  • Even in “normalized” months like Apr and Aug 2025, United States values remained above the global benchmark.

Seasonality and volatility

  • Baseline seasonality:
  • A noticeable holiday uplift in November and a mid-year peak in June are visible in the global series.
  • United States series:
  • Diverges from typical holiday patterns: a deep November dip and a strong December rebound.
  • Q1 2025 shows extraordinary spikes (Feb–Mar) that are not mirrored by the baseline.
  • June also surges significantly, consistent with a broader mid-year rise, but the magnitude is far higher than global levels.

Notable monthly highlights

  • Lowest point: Nov 2024 at $1.54 (well below the $14.28 baseline).
  • Highest points: Feb 2025 at $1,234.98 and Mar 2025 at $965.16 (massively above the $11.36 and $6.87 baselines for those months).
  • Mid-year: Jun 2025 at $333.51 (vs $26.21 baseline), followed by a step-down in Jul and Aug, though still above market.

Understanding cost per app install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Marketing & Advertising and United States helps advertisers make more efficient budget and creative choices.

Understanding the Data

Insights & analysis of Facebook advertising costs

Facebook advertising costs vary based on many factors including industry, target audience, ad placement, and campaign objectives. In the Marketing & Advertising industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. For campaigns targeting United States, advertisers often face higher costs due to high competition and purchasing power. Different campaign objectives lead to varying costs based on how Facebook optimizes for your specific goals. The data shown represents median values across multiple campaigns, and individual results may vary based on ad quality, audience targeting, and campaign optimization.

Why we use median instead of average

We use the median CTR because the underlying distribution of click-through rates is highly skewed, with a small share of campaigns achieving extremely high CTRs. These outliers can inflate a simple average, making it less representative of what most advertisers actually experience. By using the median—which sits at the midpoint of all campaigns—we provide a more rigorous and realistic benchmark that reflects the true underlying data model and helps you set attainable performance expectations.

Key Factors Affecting Facebook Ad Costs

  • Competition within your selected industry and audience demographics
  • Ad quality and relevance score – higher quality ads can lower costs
  • Campaign objective and bid strategy
  • Timing and seasonality – costs often increase during holiday periods
  • Ad placement (News Feed, Instagram, Audience Network, etc.)

Note: This data represents industry median values and benchmarks. Your actual costs may vary based on specific targeting, ad creative quality, and campaign optimization.

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The data behind the benchmarks

All data is sourced from over $3B in Facebook ad spend, collected across thousands of ad accounts that use Superads daily to analyze and improve their campaigns. Every data point is fully anonymized and aggregated—no individual advertiser is ever exposed.

This dataset updates frequently as new ad data flows in. It will only get bigger and better.

United States Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Jan 20Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Feb 17Presidents' Day
May 26Memorial Day
Jun 19Juneteenth
Jul 4Independence Day
Sep 1Labor Day
Oct 13Columbus Day
Nov 11Veterans Day
Nov 27Thanksgiving Day
Dec 25Christmas Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Thanksgiving & Black Friday weekend), December (Christmas), Back-to-school (July–September), Summer travel season (Memorial Day onwards)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might rise around major holidays like Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, especially in travel and entertainment. Black Friday/Thanksgiving weekend triggers massive spikes in retail ad competition. December ad demand typically peaks—retail campaigns require significantly higher budgets. Back-to-school promotions drive increased competition. Juneteenth may see regional engagement rise.

What's a good CPI for iOS vs Android in 2025?

iOS CPIs often range from $2 to $5 or more. Android is usually cheaper, between $1 and $3. Your CPI will depend on geo, creative, and optimization goal.

Why is my app install cost higher in some countries?

Some regions like the US, UK, and Canada have higher competition and stricter privacy regulations, which drive up costs. Countries with lower purchasing power typically have cheaper CPIs.

What creatives drive the lowest CPI on Facebook?

Short videos showing app benefits, UGC-style content, and localized messaging tend to perform best. Clear CTAs and fast-paced visuals help lower your CPI.

Should I optimize for installs or in-app actions?

Optimizing for installs gets volume, but optimizing for actions like signups or purchases brings higher quality users. It depends on your goals and how much post-install behavior matters.

How do I lower CPI without tanking app retention or quality?

Align your creative with the app experience, avoid misleading ads, and exclude users who already installed. You can also test lookalike audiences based on high-quality users, not just all installers.